The Logic Behind FilmLogic by Daniel Fort FilmLogic is a software program that adds film-tracking features to QuickTime-based Macintosh video editing systems including Adobe Premiere, Media100, EditDV and Final Cut Pro. Most people are currently using FilmLogic as a matchback system, creating film lists from 29.97 video projects. Picture cuts are cheated as needed by a frame, to keep sync. Standalone matchback applications have been used for years by negative cutters to convert 30-fps video EDLs into 24-fps film cut lists. The ‘lite’ version of FilmLogic (which is also available for Windows), works this way. What sets the full version of FilmLogic apart from other matchback software is that it is also a complete electronic codebook. In addition, the full version offers plug-ins for Premiere, Media100 and Final Cut Pro, which allow you to create lists directly from each program’s timeline without having to make and translate video EDLs. Both versions can create cut, pull, scene pull, dupe and missing elements lists and audio EDLs. The full version also makes optical lists, but it cannot currently handle all effects. Although FilmLogic could work with 24-fps media from its inception, it has not been practical to use this feature until recently. The Aurora Ignitor Studio card allows for real-time 24-fps digitizing and works much like an Avid in this regard. FilmLogic also has a feature that does a ‘reverse telecine’ to batch convert 30-fps media to 24-fps. Once 24-fps media is in FCP, the program can cut it normally, but counters and durations still measure timecode, not footage. FilmLogic cannot make a change list, but the developer, Focal Point Systems, is considering the addition of this feature. For more information, see www.filmlogic.com Go to Final Cut Pro article.   Daniel Fort is an assistant editor. He has assisted on several of the early shows to use Final Cut Pro and is working on a book about the program. He can be reached via email   Reprinted from The Motion Picture Editors Guild Magazine Vol. 22, No. 1 - March/April 2001   Guild Home | Magazine Home | Top of Page   Copyright © 2001, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700